Car-step.



J. B. GARDNER.

OAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.18, 1012.

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JOSEPH B. GARDNER, OF NORTH MCALESTER, OKLAHOMA.

CAR-STEP.

Application filed October 18, 1912.

To all volume it may cormcrn:

lie it known that I, Josuru l). Gunman, a citizen of the United States, residing at North McAlester, in the county of Pittsburg and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements lIlf I how the extension step may be actuated by lever mechanisn'i.

(lar-Qteps, of which the following is a specification.

The object oi my invention is to provide 1 an extension step for cars which is appl1- These are of usual construction and a trap cable to cars 01 all kinds, such as street cars and railway cars whether vestibuled or otherwise, and which is sate and may be easily applied at small cost and operated quickly and conveniently.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a bottom supplemental step which I apply to the ordinary steps in such manner that it may be raised when the car is in motion and easily lowered when the ear stops. The extension step normally lies close to the bottom step, but it is provided with guide bars extending diagonally upward and in ward into guides on the side supporting members of the stationary steps which support it. These guides cause the step to be raised into an upper position parallel with and close to the bottom step and to maintain this parallel condition while being lowered and when lowered to the full extent. The extension step is also provided with an operating frame comprising parallel bars which extend upwardly and rearwardly from said step and are connected at their upper rear ends by a cross bar which is engaged by an arm projecting from a horizontally arranged operating rod which is pivotally connected with the lower ends of downwardly extending brackets or hangers attached to the side supporting members of the steps. This ope ating rod is provided with an arm which is jointed to a vertically arranged rod by means of which the operating rod may be turned in such manner as to actuate the step operating frame to raise and lower the extension step. Said vertical rod may be operated by suitable lever mechanism or it may be connected with a trap door in such manner that when the trap door is raised the extension step is lowered and when the trap door is lowered the extension step is raised.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a side view of ear steps embodying my improvements, the extension step being shown in its raised position by full lines Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 19.1.3.

Serial No. 726,545.

and in lowered position or partially lowered. position by dotted lines. Fig. shows a rear elevation of the steps. Fig. 3 is a perspective view oi the steps, parts being broken away in order to better illustrate other parts. Fig. 4; is a detail view showing The stationary steps comprise side supporting members A and a series of treads li.

door (l, of the usual construction, may be hinged to the platform at the top of the steps, although this trap door may be omitted. The extension stop I) is parallel with the bottom tread of the stationary steps. This is its condition when it is either raised or lowered. To this step are Secured two supporting bars E which are diagonally arranged and extend upwardly and inwardly from the step I). They extend into guide. castings 1 which are diagonally arranged and secured to the two side supporting members A. To the extension step is attached an operating lrame G comprising two parallel bars which are attached to the step I) and extend upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, being connected at their rear ends by a horizontally arranged bar 9'.

To each side supporting member A is at tached a downwardly extending bracket or hanger II, to the lower ends of which is pivotally connected an operating rod I which is provided with a laterally projecting arm J formed with a slot j through which the bar g extends. The rod I is also provided with an arm K which is jointed at its outer end to a vertically extending rod L. This rod may be connected to the trap door (1, in the manner indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and the construction is such that when the trap door is raised and lowered the rod I is rocked, the frame G is actuated and the step D raised and lowered. It will be readily seen that when the trap door 0 is lowered, as shown in Fig. 3, the step D is elevated. It now the trap door he raised the arm K will be raised and the arm J moved outwardly, 0., toward the bottom of the steps. This correspondingly moves the frame G and lowers the extension step. Instead of connecting the rod L to a trap door it may be connected to a lever M, in the manner indicated in Fig. 4L, and operated in the same way to actuate the frame G and raise and lower the extension step.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of stationary steps comprising side supporting members and treads, of an extension step, supporting bars extending diagonally upward and inward therefrom, diagonally arranged guides on the side supporting members receiving said supporting bars, brackets attached to the side supporting members and extending downwardly therefrom, a horizontally arranged rod pivotally connected with said brackets, a step-operating frame comprising parallel bars attached to the extension step and a horizontally arranged bar connecting the rear ends thereof, an arm on said horizontally arranged rod provided with a slot through which said connecting bar on the stepbperating frame extends, another arm projecting from said horizontally a "ranged rod, and a vertically arranged operating rod connected with the outer end of'said last mentioned arm.

2. The combination with the side supporting members and treads of stationary steps, of an extension step parallel with the lower tread, supporting bars extending diagonally upward and inward from the extension step, guides attached to the side supporting members which receive said supporting bars, a step-actuating frame comprising parallel bars connected with the extension step and a horizontally arranged bar connecting the rear ends of said parallel bar, brackets attached to the side supporting members and depending therefrom, a horizontally arranged rod pivotally connected with said brackets, a slotted arm on said rod directly connected with the horizontally arranged bar of the step-actuating frame, another arm on said rod, a trap door, and a rod connected to the trap door near its hinged end and connecting said door with said last mentioned arm.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, JOSEPH B. GARDNER. l Vitnesses E. G. TAYLOR, J OHN ORTH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained'for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofPatents.

Washington, D. C. 

